Memorial Prisoners of War Baugnez

Route de Waimes, 4960 Baugnez (Malmédy)

Belgium Liège Baugnez (Malmédy)

This monument commemorates the 82 American soldiers who lost their lives here in the winter of 1944. Most of the soldiers were murdered in cold blood by the vanguard of “Kampfgruppe Peiper” on December 17, 1944, which was on its way to Flémalle on the Meuse River near Liège. This Kampfgruppe was named after its commander; Obersturmbannführer Jochen Peiper of the 1st SS Panzer Regiment “Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler” (LSSAH). It was one of the 5 so-called “Rollbahnen” of the Ardennes Offensive. His Kampfgruppe consisted of

1st SS Panzer Battalion
3rd battalion of the 2nd SS Panzergrenadierregiment
SS Panzerabteiling 501
1st SS Panzergrenadier battalion
3rd SS Panzer Battalion
84th FLAK-Luftwaffe Battalion

On Dec. 17, 1944, the US 285th Field Observation Artillery Battalion was en route from Malmedy to Stavelot. In Stavelot, they had to determine the positions of German artillery and relay them to headquarters. Although they knew the Germans had launched a counteroffensive, they were taken completely by surprise by the sheer numbers and firepower of Kampfgruppe Peiper's vanguard.

The vanguard eliminated the Americans in a short battle and forced them to surrender. The remaining soldiers were herded together in the meadow diagonally opposite this memorial.

Because the order from the commanders of the Ardennes Offensive was to advance as quickly as possible according to a predetermined timetable to the Meuse River and then to the ports of Antwerp, verbal ! orders had been given in advance that no prisoners of war would be taken. There was no time and manpower available to guard, feed and care for the prisoners of war. Everything was in the service of getting to the Meuse as quickly as possible.

In addition, it should not be underestimated that the SS troops deployed were hardened in combat on the Eastern Front. The SS had already become notorious there for their ruthless fighting. Also, the fact that Germany was increasingly cornered and German cities, and thus their own families, suffered under constant bombing, meant that the SS men fought doggedly to keep Germany from defeat.

It has remained unclear who ultimately gave the command to shoot the POWs. At the Nuremberg trials where Peiper, among others, was tried, this was never clarified. At some point, fire was opened from tanks and tracked vehicles. Even passing soldiers seated in vehicles opened fire on the soldiers in the field. After the firing stopped, SS soldiers walked past the fallen American soldiers, and those still alive were murdered in cold blood, with a shot through the head. They pretended to come to help the wounded soldiers, but wherever a soldier raised his voice, he was shot through the head.

Only a small number of soldiers managed to escape the massacre that became known as the “Malmedy Masacre.” They managed to reach the small town of Malmedy and tell what had happened to them. This moment was a turning point in the attitude of American forces in the war against Germany and in particular the SS.

Died as a result of the December 17, 1944 massacre

BLOOM Donald L., private with the 285th Field Artillery Observation Battalion (FAOB), reburied in the U.S. after the war, shot through the head.

BLOUCH Carl H., T5 with the 285th FAOB, reburied in the U.S. after the war, died in the field of wounds.

BREON Charles R., T5 with the 285th FAOB, reburied in the U.S. after the war, died from a blow to the head.

BROZOWSKI Joseph A., corporal T5 with the 285th FAOB, buried at Henri-Chapelle (B), shot through the head.

BURKETT, Samuel P., T5 with the 285th FAOB, buried at Henri-Chapelle (B), shot through the head.

BURNEY L., PFC with the 32nd Regiment of 3rd Armoured Division, reburied in the U.S. after the war, shot through the head. This soldier was not part of the 285th FAOB, but was en route with his jeep and happened to be in the column of the FAOB.

CARR Paul R., T5 with the 285th FAOB, buried at Henri-Chapelle (B), died in the field of wounds.

CARSON Homer S., private first class with the 285th FAOB, reburied in the U.S. after the war, shot through the head.

CASH Cecile J., T4 with the 197th Anti Aircraft Artillery Battalion, reburied after the war in the U.S., shot in the head. This happened 200 meters east of this spot just before the massacre. T4 Cash, along with T5 Heitmann, was traveling in a jeep just ahead of the column of the 285th FAOB, going straight at the junction and first encountering the vanguard of Kampfgruppe Peiper.

CLARK Frederick, private first class with the 285th FAOB, reburied in the U.S. after the war, died of concussion.

CLYMIRE John J., private first class with the 86th Engineers Battalion (Heavy Pontoon), buried at Henri-Chapelle, killed by shellfire.

COATES James H., private with the 285th FAOB, reburied in the U.S. after the war, died by rifle fire.

COBBLER John H., private with the 285th FAOB, buried at Henri-Chapelle (B)., died by rifle fire.

COHEN Robert, private first class with the 285th FAOB, reburied in the U.S. after the war, shot through the head.

COLLIER John D., T5 with the 285th FAOB, reburied after the war in the U.S., shot through the head.

DAVIDSON Paul G., technical-Sgt with the 285th FAOB, reburied after the war in the U.S., shot through the head.

DAVIS Warren, private first class with the 285th FAOB, reburied in the U.S. after the war, killed by shellfire.

DRESCH Howard C., private first class with the 285th FAOB, reburied in the U.S. after the war, shot through the head.

DUNBAR William J., private with the 285th FAOB, reburied after the war in the U.S., shot through the head.

FITT Carl B., corporal with the 285th FAOB, reburied after the war in the U.S., shot through the head.

FLACK Donald P., private first class with the 285th FAOB, reburied after the war in the U.S., shot through the head.

FRANZ Walter A., sergeant with the 285th FAOB, reburied in the U.S. after the war, died as a result of light weapons, shot from military vehicles during surrender.

FREY Carl B., private first class with the 285th FAOB, reburied in the U.S. after the war, shot through the head.

GEISLER Donald E., staff sergeant with the 285th FAOB, reburied in the U.S. after the war, shot through the head.

GENTHENER Carl R., 1st lieutenant with the 32nd regiment of 3rd Armoured Division, buried at Henri-Chapelle (B), shot through the head.

GOFFMANN Solomon S., 2nd lieutenant with the 285th FAOB, reburied in the U.S. after the war, died as a result of light weapons, shot during surrender from military vehicles.

HAINES Charles F., T5 with the 285th FAOB, reburied in the U.S. after the war, killed by shell fire.

HALL Charles E., private first class with the 285th FAOB, reburied in the U.S. after the war, run over by German armored cars.

HALLMAN Samuel A., private with the 285th FAOB, reburied in the U.S. after the war, died as a result of light weapons, shot down from military vehicles during surrender.

HEITMANN Raymond A., T5 with the 197th Anti Aircraft Artillery Battalion, buried at Henri-Chapelle (B), died as a result of light weapons during the battle on December 17, 1944, this happened 200 meters east of this spot just before the massacre. T5 Heitmann was traveling in a jeep with T4 Cash just ahead of the column of the 285th FAOB, going straight ahead at the junction and first encountering the vanguard of Kampfgruppe Peiper.

HERCHELROTH Sylvester, T4 with the 285th FAOB, reburied in the U.S. after the war, shot in the head.

IAMES Lloyd A., 2nd lieutenant with the 32nd regiment of 3rd Armoured Division, buried at Henri-Chapelle (B), shot in the head

Under construction 9-6-2025.